Oil pressure failure protection device for internal combustion engines

ABSTRACT

A device for slowing an internal combustion engine in the event of oil pressure failure at an engine speed above idle, includes an SCR with the gate thereof connected through a resistor to the field winding of the engine generator. The SCR is connected between an oil pressure sensing switch typically provided for the engine, and the ignition distributor points. Should the oil pressure switch close, indicating low oil pressure, and the engine is turning at sufficient speed so that the generator field provides enough voltage to the SCR gate, the SCR will fire and short the ignition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Modern automobiles and trucks are provided with sensors and warning systems which monitor the working functions of the vehicle engine and apprise the operator of serious malfunction. A major operating parameter of an internal combustion engine is the pressure of the lubricating oil, and any disruption of the lubricating system pressure is usually signalled by a dashboard warning light.

In internal combustion engines which are air cooled, and which rely on the lubricating system both for cooling and lubrication, failure of the lubricating system is a catastrophic event. Should the oil pressure fall significantly, and the engine continues in operation, the engine will destroy itself in a matter of a few seconds. The main bearings of the crankshaft will erode, the cylinder walls may be scored, and the engine may seize.

It is an unfortunate yet commonplace aspect of human nature that a vehicle operator who is concentrating on driving may ignore a dashboard light and be totally unaware of an engine malfunction. Should the oil pressure fail at freeway cruising speeds, the driver will barely have time to stop the vehicle before the engine is damaged, even if he or she reacts immediately to the warning light. Clearly, a mere dashborad warning light system is insufficient.

The following United States Patents exemplify the state of the art in devices which react to stop engine operation in the event of oil pressure failure:

3,914,735, 3,116,729, 3,601,103, 2,771,068, 3,362,388, 2,445,625, 3,384,062, 2,191,216.

Of these patents, U.S. Pat. No. 2,191,216 relates most directly to the present invention, in that it shows the engine to idle in the event of oil pressure failure, and that it senses idle speed by the voltage generated by the engine generator. However, this prior art system utilizes a solenoid device which must continuously energized, unlike the present invention as detailed in the following.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally comprises a device for sensing the oil pressure of an internal combustion engine, and slowing the engine to idle speed should the oil pressure fall below a predetermined minimum. The invention includes an SCR with one electrode connected through a diode to the oil pressure switch typically provided for the standard oil pressure warning system in a vehicle. The gate of the SCR is connected through a resistor to the field winding of the engine generator. The other electrode of the SCR is connected directly to the ignition distributor points. The voltage from the generator passing across the resistor is sufficient to turn on the SCR only when the engine is turning at a rate above idle speed.

Should the oil pressure fall, the pressure switch will close and ground the one electrode of the SCR. If the generator voltage is sufficient to gate the SCR, the SCR will turn on and connect the distributor points to ground. The engine will immediately stall, slowing until it reaches idle speed. At that point, the generator voltage will be insufficient to operate the SCR gate, and the SCR will turn off. Thus the device will maintain the engine at idle speed while the oil pressure is low. The oil pressure warning light, together with the governing action of the device, will notify the driver of the engine malfunction. Further, the limiting of the engine to idle speed will minimize the damaging effects of the lack of proper lubrication.

THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the circuit of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the circuit of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the circuit of yet another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is generally described as a device for protecting an internal combustion engine from oil pressure failure or other serious or destructive malfunction. As shown in FIG. 1, one embodiment of the invention includes an SCR 11 which has one electrode 12 connected to the distributor points of the engine. The gate of the SCR is connected to a resistor 17, which in turn is connected to the field winding of the engine generator. The electrode 13 of the SCR is connected to a forward biased diode 14, which is connected to the normally open oil pressure sensing switch 18 of the vehicle. It should be noted that the switch 18 makes a direct connection to ground when the oil pressure falls below a predetermined value.

A dashboard warning light is connected to a battery voltage on one side, and to a forward biased diode 19 on the other side. The diode 19 is connected to a pressure switch 18. The resistor 17 serves both to limit the gate current applied to the gate 16, and to act as a voltage divider to apply only a small portion of the field voltage to the gate. Diode 14 is required to prevent battery voltage from the indicator light from back biasing the SCR. The diode 19 serves to prevent field voltages above battery voltage levels from actuating the indicator light 21. If the indicator lamp 21 is not provided, the diodes 14 and 19 are not required.

The voltage applied to the gate of the SCR is sufficient to fire the SCR only when the engine is turning its generator at nominal cruising speed. Should the oil pressure fall to an unsafe level, the switch 18 will close. The SCR is already fired by the generator field voltage, so that the distributor points are connected through the SCR and the switch 18 to ground. The spark plugs are thus prevented from firing and the engine stalls.

As the engine slows to a nominal idle speed, the generator field voltage falls until the voltage appearing at the gate 16 of the SCR 11 is insufficient to fire the SCR. The SCR turns off and the distributor points are no longer shorted to ground. Thus the engine is limited to idle speed by the invention. It may be appreciated that the value of the resistor 17 determines the speed to which the engine is limited during oil pressure failure, since it controls the amount of the generator voltage applied to the SCR gate.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the elements 11-14 and 16-21 are connected and function as in the previous embodiment. The electrode 12 of the SCR is connected to the junction point 24, to which the primary winding 22 and the secondary winding 23 of the spark coil are connected. The breaker points 26 and the capacitor 27 are also connected to the point 24, as is known in the art. Connected between junction point 24 and the ground side of the diode 14 is a series RC network comprising a resistor 28 and a capacitor 29. This RC network serves to shunt the high voltage peaks generated by the spark coil 22-23 around the SCR, so that the SCR will be free of any potential damage from the high voltage, and so that the voltage peaks will not trigger the SCR. If a high voltage SCR is used, the RC network is not necessary.

Also connected to the ground side of the diode 14 is a forward biased diode 31, to which a grounding-type engine sensor switch 32 is connected. The switch 32 may comprise an engine temperature switch, a fire sensor, or the like. If the switch 32 is provided with a dashboard indicator light, the light will be connected to the ground side of the diode 32. Other switches and indicators may be connected in a like manner. Should any of the switches 18, 32, etc., close, and the engine is operating above idle speed, the distributor points will be connected to ground and the engine will be limited to idle speed, as before.

It should be noted that the protective device of the invention draws virtually no current from the electrical system of the engine when it is operating. It draws current only during an oil pressure failure crisis, an event which occurs infrequently during the life of an engine. Thus the device conserves energy and fuel, unlike prior art arrangements.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the elements 11-13 and 16-18 are again employed as before. The electrode 12 of the SCR is connected to an alarm device 34, which in turn is connected to positive battery voltage. Should the switch 18 close and the SCR fire, the alarm will be connected to ground and will emit an alarm signal to warn the operator of engine oil pressure failure or other malfunction.

The embodiment depicted in FIG. 4 is designed for use in conjunction with fixed installation internal combustion engines such as generating stations or the like. The electrode 12 of the SCR 11 is connected to the circuit breaker 36 which is usually provided with such fixed installation engines. The circuit breaker is in turn connected to the positive pole of the engine battery. Also connected to the electrode 12 is a conductor 37 which is connected to the ignition circuit of the engine, i.e., either to the distributor points (in the case of a spark fired engine), or to the pump of the fuel injection system (in the case of a diesel engine or the like). The circuit elements 13-18 are connected as in the previous embodiments.

The connection of the gate 16 of the SCR through the resistor 17 to the generator field permits the engine to be started without firing the SCR. Should the switch 18 close while the engine is operating at normal speed, the voltage from the generator field will fire the SCR which will connect the battery directly through the circuit breaker and the switch 18 to ground. This short circuit will cause the circuit breaker to open, thereby severing the connection between the distributor points or pump and the battery. The engine will thus stop immediately. It should be noted that this embodiment will not reestablish the ignition when the engine slows below idle speed, as the circuit breaker will remain open.

It should be noted that the present invention does not interfere with the normal starting procedure of an engine. When the engine is being cranked by the starter motor, the oil pressure switch is closed until the engine starts and pressure is established. However, during cranking the generator field voltage is insufficient to fire the SCR 11. Therefore, the device is not actuated during starting.

The engine protective device of the present invention is advantageous in that it is simple and reliable, easily installed without disturbing the original equipment of the engine, and automatic in operation. Furthermore, it requires no power unless a malfunction occurs. 

We claim:
 1. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a generator powered electrical system and an ignition system including breaker points, an engine malfunction protection device including engine malfunction sensing means, engine speed limiting means actuated by said engine malfunction sensing means to limit the speed of said engine to a predetermined maximum during the occurrence of a malfunction, and engine speed sensing means, connected to said engine speed limiting means, to trigger said speed limiting means when said engine exceeds a predetermined speed; said speed limiting means including a solid state switching device having one electrode connected to said breaker points, said engine malfunction sensing means including a normally open switch having one pole connected to ground and the other pole connected to the other electrode of said solid state switching device, said speed sensing means including a resistor connected between the field winding of said generator and the gate of said solid state switching device.
 2. The engine malfunction protection device of claim 1, further including a forward biased diode interposed between said other pole of said switch and said other electrode of said solid state switching device.
 3. The engine malfunction protection device of claim 2, further including a series RC network connected between said one electrode of said solid state switching device and the low voltage side of said diode. 